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November's theme is EVOLUTION. For details on how to send us your work, please read our Submit page. ✴

About Rookie

Rookie is an online magazine and book series for teenagers. Each month, a different editorial theme drives the writing, photography, and artwork that we publish. Learn more about us here, and find out how to submit your work here!

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! As of Wednesday, this website will be one year old. I can’t believe it! So much love has gone into this collection of pixels, so thank you to our AMAZING staff of editors, writers, illustrators, and photographers for all that you do. Much of this love comes from you readers as well, so THANK YOU LOTS. We would not exist if you didn’t read us, and we would not be as good if you didn’t tell us what you’d like to see, or send us your work (both of which we encourage you to do more!). Honestly, nothing has ever made me as happy as seeing the Rookie community come together and watching you people find each other, online and in person at our road trip meet-ups. That is not an exaggeration. Like, for as much as I act like I hate people when I’m at school or in line at Potbelly, I’m actually maybe the #1 fan of humans and of humans relating to one another and of humans relating to things other humans make. I think it’s kind of the best, and it happens with Rookie because you help make it such a welcoming community, and for that I want to buy you all the thank-you cards at Walgreens and make them into a mosaic of your face.

As previously mentioned, a print edition of the best of the best of our first year’s content is available for purchase TOMORROW, September 4! You can buy Rookie Yearbook Onehere, and on Amazon, and in some Barnes & Noble stores, and in some “finer” bookstores, like independent ones that sell zines and whatnot.

Rookie’s shop will also have goodies like those Rookie T-shirts you might’ve seen popping up recently. This is all so REAL. SO REAL THAT I MADE THIS VIDEO TO “GOT TO BE REAL” BY CHERYL LYNN.

To add to the REALness, we’re holding a reading and Yearbook signing at McNally Jackson in New York this Sunday, September 9th, at 7 PM. A bunch of the staff and a few guest writers will read, and it’ll be a nice little reunion for those of you who made it to our road trip meet-up!

Thank you for being with us, whether it’s been a year or a day. Thank you wonderful staffers, thank you wonderful guests, EVERYONE IS AWESOME YIPPEE.

OMFG YOU GUYS I’M SO EXCITED FOR THIS. I’M BUYING ONE AS SOON AS I CAN. And also, Tavi, I almost never wear pants when I don’t have to, so I totally get you. And also also, I agree with you on the people thing… I realized recently that I don’t hate ALL people, just stupid and mean people. And all of you are so smart and nice and I LOOOVEEEE YOUUUUU…..

That video has most definitely brightened my back to school week, I only go back on wednesday because i’m in the uk which unfortunately also means i can’t come to the signing :( :( :( I am going to order it pronto though. Also can’t believe Rookie is a year old, crazzzy.

And guys, I’m not sure what’s wrong, but there’s something up with your shop… It won’t let me add the yearbook, it adds the t-shirt instead and won’t let me remove it. Just wanted you guys to know. And also, why is the book cheaper on Amazon? Is something different about it?

YAY I got my copy of the yearbook!
This is where I’m happy that I’m not a teenager anymore so I can afford the international postage… Looking forward to turning the pretty pages of the real thing.
Thank YOU Rookie people for making our lives more interesting and beautiful!

omigod omigod omigod I ACTUUALLY CANNOT FUCKING WAIT. I told my Mum: ‘THE ROOKIE YEARBOOK COMES OUT TOMMOROW!!!’ And she was lyke: ‘Yeah I already pre-ordered it and I was like OOOHH MYY GAWWD WOW <3 Where can we buy le teeshirts????? And is it too late to submit stuff for this month? :/

P.S Tavi, I loved the 'I'm not wearing any pants right now bit. That is so me. I walk around the house only wearing pants, lyke 24/7. It-twas a nice touch! Best video ever.

THIS HAS BEEN AN AMAZING MAZING AMAZING MAZING MONTH….AHHHH LOVE YOU ALL AND LOVE ROOKIE <3 <3 <3

I’m sooo excited for having a tangible copy of rookie!!!!! I can’t explain the excitement. Also I saw from another comment and am wondering as well: why is it cheaper on amazon? Does it not have something?

Not too be creepy or anything but I had a dream last night that I was in a dark alley way with Tavi and anaheed talking about how great trader joes is. I guess that’s what happens when you stay up late reading rookie!!

haha, Tavi your dancing is hilarious! I cannot wait for the day that my year book arrives in the post. Im way too excited. Rookie has truly made this year a better one, so thankyou to everyone who helped make/ write/ create collages for Rookie <3

I only found Rookie a little while ago but I have been obsessively reading ever since. I think this is the best thing ever and I love how I can relate to every article I have read. Happy birthday Rookie!!

So looking forward to receiving my REAL LIFE 3D Rookie and weirdly smelling the pages like I do whenever I get a new book or magazine. As great as the internet and e-readers are, they don’t give you that GUYZ

THE BOOK LOOKS AMAZING AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR IT TO BE MINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could sob right now at how happy and excited I am for the book, anniversary, and just this month in general!

YAYAYAYAY! I think I saw Frank-n-further in there and that can only mean that one of my fave articles at kinda made me decide to get this here username and password to start commenting might be in there! It’s the article ‘There’s Always A Light’ about Rocky Horror. I love it so!

Wow! The anniversary of Rookie is the day of my birthday! Feels good to know that I’ve been a part of it since day one! This website has truly blossomed into something very beautiful, and it’s changed me so much for the better. Thank you, Tavi, and the whole crew of Rookiemag. You are AMAZING!

Oh my L O R D. I need to celebrate somehow. I should go buy a box of pop rocks and a diet coke and have a fireworks show in my belly. This is way too much excitement for me to handle! I don’t think I can handle this WOOO( A La , ‘Bootylicious’ made famous by Destiny’s Child…) anywhoot, CONGRATS ROOKIE. Everything about this website is sunshine, rainbows and all that other good stuff.

I found Rookie a while back whilst going through some photos, but now I have used it as the prime example in my major art essay for my course this year on how the internet and blogging has positively affected teens ! Wow its crazy ! But I will definitely be purchasing your issues for myself in little old Tasmania xxxxxx

hey guys! congratulations on a whole year of online awesomeness! here’s to many more years to come. and i can’t wait to get my hands on the rookie yearbook! ahhh!

so i just have a question about submissions. if i submit something like a song or a photograph, am i supposed to receive an automated reply? i submitted something last week but haven’t gotten any automated reply. I sent it to so I’m sure it’s the right address, but I am just not sure if you guys got it.

I woke up this morning and went to buy this because it was the fourth but I had to wait because of the time difference.. I ordered it now though. I have to wait at least two weeks before i get to see it though. im so keen.

I already pre-ordered it 2 weeks ago at amazon.de, but it doesnt say, when they have it in stock and going to send it :( if you have a credit-card you can also pre-order it on amazon.co.uk, they have it available 12. september… Hopefully german amazon also has it then… Cant wait any looooonger!!!

I stumbled across rookie on its launch day, which also happened to be the day before I started at my new, very large, unknown 6th form college. You quieted the nerves and gave me confidence the night I was sick with worry. Thankfully the past year has been the best of my life, and after having a rough time at my old school I now have some of the best friends I will ever make, and I am the happiest I have ever been. Ever since that first night I have read rookie virtually every day. It was like finding pieces of myself online. Thank you for making me smile that September night, and pretty much every night since. Here’s to the next year!

Just wanted to say that I live in London and have read your previous day’s 3 entries every single day for the last year. It is a huge deal to me and I have laughed and cried (and cried and laughed) many times. As a female and a former teen this mag is just the greatest xxxx

omg!!!!!!! i’m BEYOND excited!!!! happy birthday rookie, and thank you thank you thank you for existing. i really do appreciate it. rookie has changed my life and views in so many ways. i’m ordering this right away!

Oh my word, I just got my “Yearbook” in the mail today and it is beautiful!! Congratulations, Tavi et. al., on all of your hard work. I love not having to look at a computer screen to enjoy my Rookie-fix, haha :) I’m kind of an oldster/grown-up and I SO WISH this was around when I was a teenager. I’m going to have to get Yearbooks for my nieces. Thanks!!

i have to say, the yearbook is everything i expected and more.
i love everything about it, and the little freebies are the best.
i really want to get another one so i can have one to treasure and one to cut up and stick on my walls.